The Prince George Regional Highway Rescue Department has been given $115,000 by the provincial government. The money comes in the form of a community gaming grant.
Department chief Keith Laboucan says they already know how they’ll be spending the money.
“It’s going to go toward equipment. Rescue equipment is very, very expensive. And operational costs of course. It kind of eats up your budget very quickly.”
Laboucan says the department relies heavily on grants to keeps its doors open and the process of applying for grants and adjusting budgets can be stressful.
“If we theoretically apply for up to $100,000, sometimes we get $40,000. And then we have to redo our budget because we were hoping for a certain amount and we get a lesser amount. It takes a lot of money to maintain a service that we provide because of the areas that we cover.”
Laboucan says the purchase of new equipment will take a big bite out of this grant.
“To give you an idea, an average cost for a spreader alone, which is like the Jaws of Life, can run anywhere from $8,000-12,000 depending on whether it’s hydraulic. We’re just purchasing a Greenland tool – it’s a combi[nation] tool that does cutting and spreading. They’re about $14,000.”
Other planned expenditures include maintenance for existing machines, personal protective gear for volunteers and training and operational costs for the department.
While he’s grateful for the financial boost, Laboucan says the department can always use more support and it doesn’t have to be money.
“We’re always looking for new members. We train Wednesday and Sunday nights at 6pm. We’re always willing to take people on as new members – that’s what keeps our membership going. Obviously the money’s a big thing but also having a strong membership. We’re also looking for board members. There’s always something you can do.”
The Prince George Regional Highway Rescue Department is a non-profit organization run and staffed by volunteers. They service an area of about 24,000 square kilometres, supporting local fire departs and providing vehicle extraction and off-the-road rescue services for serious vehicle accidents.